{{TOCnestright}}The '''Governor of Alaska''' is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch, and the highest state office in [[Alaska]]. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms. The same individual may not be elected governor again until one complete gubernatorial term has passed.

{{TOCnestright}}The '''Governor of Alaska''' is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch, and the highest state office in [[Alaska]]. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms. The same individual may not be elected governor again until one complete gubernatorial term has passed.

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As of May 2013, [[Alaska]] is one of 24 Republican [[state government trifectas]].

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{{State trifecta status|state=Alaska|control=Republican}}

==Current officer==

==Current officer==

The current, and 10th, governor of Alaska is [[Sean Parnell]], a member of the [[Republican Party]]. Parnell was elected lieutenant governor in 2006 along with [[Sarah Palin]] and became the governor upon Palin's resignation on July 26, 2009; he completed her term and ran for the office himself in 2010. He won a full term, which he began serving on December 6, 2010.

The current, and 10th, governor of Alaska is [[Sean Parnell]], a member of the [[Republican Party]]. Parnell was elected lieutenant governor in 2006 along with [[Sarah Palin]] and became the governor upon Palin's resignation on July 26, 2009; he completed her term and ran for the office himself in 2010. He won a full term, which he began serving on December 6, 2010.

|ref = [http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/02GENR/data/results.htm State of Alaska Division of Elections]

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==Vacancies==

==Vacancies==

:: ''See also: [[How gubernatorial vacancies are filled]]''

:: ''See also: [[How gubernatorial vacancies are filled]]''

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* proclaiming martial law for up to 20 days. (A longer declaration requires a majority vote of the joint legislature.)

* proclaiming martial law for up to 20 days. (A longer declaration requires a majority vote of the joint legislature.)

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==Divisions==

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The Office of the Governor oversees four main divisions: Alska State Commission for Human Rights, Boards and Commissions, Office of International Trade and Office of Management and Budget.

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Also state what the divisions are expected to do for the state office (advice, research, etc.).

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===<u>Alaska State Commission for Human Rights</u>===

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:The [http://humanrights.alaska.gov/ State Commission for Human Rights] has the following mission statement:

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::''"Discrimination not only threatens the rights and privileges of the inhabitants of the state, but also menaces the institutions of the state and threatens peace, order, health, safety, and general welfare of the state and its inhabitants. Therefore, it is the policy of the state and the purpose of this chapter to eliminate and prevent discrimination. It is also the policy of the state to encourage and enable physically and mentally disabled persons to participate fully in the social and economic life of the state and to engage in remunerative employment."<ref>[http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/folioproxy.asp?url=http://wwwjnu01.legis.state.ak.us/cgi-bin/folioisa.dll/stattx09/query=*/doc/{t9214}/pageitems={body}? ''Alaska Statues,'' "Title 18. HEALTH, SAFETY, AND HOUSING-Sec.18.80.200," accessed July 25, 2013}</ref>''

:The [http://gov.alaska.gov/parnell/services/boards-commissions.html Office of Boards and Commissions] aids the governor in his or her appointments to state boards and commissions. It processes applications for appointments.

:[http://omb.alaska.gov/ The Office of Management and Budget] prepares annual capital and operating budget, training materials, guidelines, budget submission timetables for executive branch agencies and advises the Governor in the budget review process. It also helps develop the Governor's budget, oversees the automated budget system and reviews propsed changes for the appropriations bill.

The enacted budget for the Governor's Office in Fiscal Year 2014 is $30,212,600.<ref>[http://omb.alaska.gov/ombfiles/14_budget/PDFs/4_Press_Packet.pdf ''Alaska Office of Management and Budget,'' "FY 2014 Operating Budget," May 21, 2013] </ref>

==Compensation==

==Compensation==

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::''See also: [[Comparison of gubernatorial salaries]] and [[Compensation of state executive officers]]''

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::''See also: [[Compensation of state executive officers]]''

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In 2012, the Alaska Governor was paid an estimated [[Compensation of state executive officers|$145,000]]. This figure comes from the [[Council of State Governments]].

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The governor's pay is set by law and may be changed by the legislature. If the legislature lowers the gubernatorial salary, the pay cut does not take effect until the next gubernatorial term, unless the pay cut applies to all salaried state officers.

The governor's pay is set by law and may be changed by the legislature. If the legislature lowers the gubernatorial salary, the pay cut does not take effect until the next gubernatorial term, unless the pay cut applies to all salaried state officers.

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==Former officeholders==

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===2013===

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In 2013, the governor's salary was $145,000.<ref>[http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/drupal/content/csg-releases-2013-governor-salaries ''Council of State Governments,'' "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," June 25, 2013]</ref>

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===2012===

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In 2012, the Alaska Governor was paid an estimated [[Compensation of state executive officers|$145,000]]. This figure comes from the [[Council of State Governments]].

From 1992-2013, there were Democratic governors in office for eight years while there were Republican governors in office for 12 years, including the last 11. Alaska was under a Republican [[trifecta]] for the last year of the study period.

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Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992-2013.

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Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states have divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

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The chart below shows the partisan composition of the [[Governor of Alaska|Office of the Governor of Alaska]], the [[Alaska State Senate]] and the [[Alaska House of Representatives]] from 1992-2013.

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[[File:Partisan composition of Alaska state government(1992-2013).PNG]]

The Governor of Alaska is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch, and the highest state office in Alaska. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms. The same individual may not be elected governor again until one complete gubernatorial term has passed.

Current officer

The current, and 10th, governor of Alaska is Sean Parnell, a member of the Republican Party. Parnell was elected lieutenant governor in 2006 along with Sarah Palin and became the governor upon Palin's resignation on July 26, 2009; he completed her term and ran for the office himself in 2010. He won a full term, which he began serving on December 6, 2010.

Before his election as lieutenant governor, Parnell operated his own private law practice in Anchorage, AL. He earned his J.D. from the Puget Sound School of Law and a B.B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University. He and his wife, Sandy, have two daughters.[1]

Qualifications

Under Article III, Section 6 of the Constitution, the governor may not hold any federal office or any state office in Alaska while serving as governor. Per Section 2 of the same article, the governor must be at least 30 years old, a qualified voter in Alaska, and have been both an American citizen and a resident of Alaska for a minimum of seven years on election day.

The governor shall be at least thirty years of age and a qualified voter of the State. He shall have been a resident of Alaska at least seven years immediately preceding his filing for office, and he shall have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years.

Elections

Alaska elects governors in federal midterm election years (e.g. 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018). General elections are held on the first Tuesday and the first Monday in November.[2] Winners take office at noon on the first Monday in December following the election, per Article III, Section 4 of the state constitution. Thus, December 6, 2010 and December 1, 2014 are inaugural days.

On November 2, 2010, Parnell/Treadwell won election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of Alaska. They defeated Berkowitz/Benson (D), Toien/Brown (L) and Donald R. Wright (I) in the general election.

On November 7, 2006, Palin/Parnell won election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of Alaska. They defeated Knowles/Berkowitz (D), Halcro/Von Gemmingen (I), Wright/Welton (AI), Toine/Mirabal (Lib) and David M. Massie (Green) in the general election.

On November 5, 2002, Murkowski/Leman won re-election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of Alaska. They defeated Ulmer/Hall (D), Benson/Coburn (Green), Wright/DeNardo (AI), Vinzant/Mendias (MOD) and Toien/Anders (Lib) in the general election.

Vacancies

In the event that the elected governor is unable to complete her term, the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska assumes the office. The lieutenant governor also becomes acting governor at any time when the elected incumbent is temporarily unable to discharge the office. If the elected governor is continually unable to discharge the office for six months, the office is deemed vacant and the lieutenant governor succeeds to the office.

In the event that a governor-elect dies, resigns, is disqualified, or otherwise does not take office, the individual elected as lieutenant governor shall become the governor.

Any that the lieutenant governor takes over as the governor, she or he serves as the governor for the entire remaining term.

Duties

The Governor of Alaska is the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Alaska Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.

Many offices, such as that of the Attorney General, which are elected offices in most states, are gubernatorial appointments in Alaska. The governor has wide latitude is searching for a nominee but must seek legislative confirmation of those nominees. The governor also appoints the officers of most state boards and commissions and has the power to make recess appointments when the legislature is not in session.

The number of departments in Alaska's state government is Constitutionally capped at 20; however, the governor may decrease and increase the numbers of departments within that limit. Some reorganization of the government may be done at the governor's discretion. For changes requiring the force of law, the governor issues an Executive Order; the legislature then has 60 session days to reject the change, done by a majority vote of a joint session. Otherwise, the Executive Order stands and takes effect on a day chosen by the governor.

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

upholding the faithful execution of all Alaska laws and forcing compliance when needed, either through the courts or by legislative action

convening special sessions of the House, the Senate, or both in a Joint Session

addressing the legislature at the beginning of each session and at other times he deems necessary, with a description of the current state of Alaska's affairs and with her or his recommendations

appointing all general and flag officers of Alaska's armed forces

proclaiming martial law for up to 20 days. (A longer declaration requires a majority vote of the joint legislature.)

Divisions

The Office of the Governor oversees four main divisions: Alska State Commission for Human Rights, Boards and Commissions, Office of International Trade and Office of Management and Budget.

Also state what the divisions are expected to do for the state office (advice, research, etc.).

Alaska State Commission for Human Rights

"Discrimination not only threatens the rights and privileges of the inhabitants of the state, but also menaces the institutions of the state and threatens peace, order, health, safety, and general welfare of the state and its inhabitants. Therefore, it is the policy of the state and the purpose of this chapter to eliminate and prevent discrimination. It is also the policy of the state to encourage and enable physically and mentally disabled persons to participate fully in the social and economic life of the state and to engage in remunerative employment."[3]

Office of Management and Budget

The Office of Management and Budget prepares annual capital and operating budget, training materials, guidelines, budget submission timetables for executive branch agencies and advises the Governor in the budget review process. It also helps develop the Governor's budget, oversees the automated budget system and reviews propsed changes for the appropriations bill.

State budget

Compensation

The governor's pay is set by law and may be changed by the legislature. If the legislature lowers the gubernatorial salary, the pay cut does not take effect until the next gubernatorial term, unless the pay cut applies to all salaried state officers.

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, there were Democratic governors in office for eight years while there were Republican governors in office for 12 years, including the last 11. Alaska was under a Republican trifecta for the last year of the study period.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992-2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states have divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.